Direct and Indirect Speech for CBSE Class 10 English

Direct Speech

Direct speech refers to the speech with the speaker's actual words. This type of speech has the word-to-word restatement of the speaker's speech.

Example: Rahim said, "I am going to the playground." 

Indirect or Reported Speech

Indirect or reported speech refers to the speech that doesn't use the actual word-to-word statement of the speaker. Also, indirect speech follows past tense, generally.

Example: Rahim said he was going to the playground. 

Benefits of Learning Direct and Indirect Speech for Class 10

• Both direct and indirect speeches are essential parts of the English language.

• Direct speech helps to provide or quote an exact portrayal of the speaker and their moods and tone of speech. 

• Indirect speech helps to learn to summarise someone's dialogue and thoughts adequately. 

Examples of Class 10 Direct and Indirect Speech

Direct Speech Examples:

• Ritu said, "I live in the countryside."

• She said, "I'll be at the playground on time."

Reported Speech Examples:

• Ritu said she lived in the countryside.

• She said she would be at the playground on time.

Basic Rules of Direct and  Indirect Speech that Students of Class 10 Should Know

Rules of Direct Speech for Class 10

• For every character's speech, use separate lines.

• Always start a speech with a capital letter. 

• Every speaker's speech should be in quotes ("XYZ").

• We will use a reported clause (like, 'said,' 'asked,' 'replied') before the quotation.

Rules of Reported Speech for Class 10

• If the reporting verb of the direct speech is in the past tense, all the present tenses used in direct speech will be in the past tense in the indirect or reported speech.

• Present perfect tense and present continuous tense in direct speech will be in the past perfect tense and past continuous tense in indirect or reported speech.

• Simple present tense in direct speech will be in simple past in indirect or reported speech. 

• Simple future and future continuous tense in direct speech changes to the present conditional and conditional continuous tense in indirect speech.

• Modals like must, may, and can in direct speech become would have to/ had to, might, and could respectively in indirect speech. 

• The First-person in direct speech becomes the subject in indirect speech. 

• The imperative mood becomes the infinitive in reported speech.

Direct to Indirect Speech Conversion 

Direct Speech: I said, "I am busy."

Indirect Speech: I said I was busy.

Direct Speech: She said, "Are you okay"?

Indirect Speech: She inquired of you whether you were okay.

Direct Speech: She said, "I will leave now."

Indirect Speech: She said that she would leave then.

Important Topics for Class 10 Direct and Indirect Speech

In this chapter, you will learn:

• What are direct and indirect speech?

• What are the basic rules of direct and indirect speech?

• How to convert direct speech into indirect speech?

Why Should You Download Class 10 English Direct and Indirect Speech Free PDF ? - Key Benefits

• If you want the free direct and indirect speech exercises for Class 10 PDF, visit Vedantu’s website, find the chapter and click on the download button.

• The free PDFs available at Vedantu are easy to access and are also convenient, secure and compact. 

• The class 10 English grammar reported speech PDF are completely reliable to practice for exams as they have been curated by the subject matter experts based on the latest syllabus. 

The Vedantu’s teachers have given all the rules and directions for converting direct to indirect speeches with many examples. Several rules for converting direct speech to indirect speech need to be practised repeatedly, and the exercises from Vedantu's end will help you with that. Download the PDF and practise the solved exercises to ensure firm grip of the topic and solve your exam questions with ease. You can also sign up for our online classes to improve your hold on English grammar and fetch excellent results.